RISON - Patrick “Pat” Berry of the Calmer community has been appointed by Gov. Sarah Sanders to complete the unexpired term of the late District 6 Justice of the Peace Owen Rushing, who passed away on Dec. 6, 2025.Berry, 78, will serve on the Cleveland County Quorum Court through Dec. 31, 2026. His selection was one of several appointments announced by the governor on Tuesday.District 6 includes the Woodlawn area east of Big Creek bordered by Brushy Creek Road to the north and Hwy. 114 to the south. It also includes the northeast corner of Cleveland County east of Hudgins Creek and north of Hwy. 114.Berry and his wife, Malinda, owner of the My Berry Patch in Rison, settled in the Calmer area about 10 years ago. Malinda grew up in Rison before her family moved to Arizona when she was in high school. After retirement, the couple lived in Hot Springs for about four years before finding property in the Calmer area. They are members of Bethel #1 Missionary Baptist Church at Rison.A native of Oregon, Berry is a former police officer and software vice president. He said his last job before full retirement was serving as a technical resource for a contractor working for the Naval Research Lab in Washington, D.C.The Berrys have been involved in local politics since moving to Cleveland County with Pat currently serving as chairman of the Cleveland County Republican Party.“I want to represent the area,” Berry said about his plans for finishing out Rushing’s term.Rushing, 84, of Calmer, passed away on Dec. 23, 2025. He had represented District 6 on the quorum court since 2007. He was a long-time fire chief of the Woodlawn Volunteer Fire Department, serving the organization for more than 40 years. Rushing’s death came after the 2026 election filing period had closed, and he was the only candidate to file for the District 6 position.Josh Curtis, director of governmental affairs for t...
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